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The largest unit of local government
in Michigan today is the County. It is also the oldest political subdivision
of the State having attained stature and importance before any other form of
government now in existence. Wayne County, named in honor of General Anthony Wayne, was
the first Michigan County organized in the Northwest Territory in 1796 by
Winthrop Sargent, Acting Governor. During those early years of territorial
government, there was a tendency to establish counties covering extensive
areas. For example, Wayne County, when first organized, comprised all of
Michigan and parts of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Wisconsin.

However, as it became evident that matters affecting the
common good welfare such as schools, roads, law enforcement and public
health were limited to local settlements, it became necessary to make
government as convenient to the people as possible. The result of this early
conclusion was the division of our state in 83 counties 68 in the Lower
Peninsula and 15 in the Upper Peninsula. Most of the counties in the Lower
Peninsula 15 in the Upper Peninsula are approximately square in shape with
about 24 miles on a side.

By 1836, when the first constitution fo r Michigan was
prepared, Counties were an established unit of government. Provision was
made to incorporate and use them for locally administering State Government
operating only within its own boundaries and performing certain specific
work for the State.

The services rendered by County Government affects each of
us from before we were born until we are dead.

Before you were born, it is quite possible your mother
attended a pre-natal cli nic sponsored by the County Health Department. The
day you were born, a clerk in the County Clerks office filed your birth
certificate. As a baby, you may well have attended a baby clinic or received
immunization shots from your County Health Department. As a child, you were
the recipient of educational programs sponsored by the County Intermediate
School District and undoubtedly used the services of the County Library.
When you were married, the County Clerk�s office issued the marriage
certificate. When you went into business, you filed your assumed name
certificate in the County Clerks office and when you bought a home; your
deed and mortgage were recorded in the office of the County Register of
Deed. If you had legal problems, they were attended to by the County Courts,
either Circuit, District or Probate; if you or members of your family have
had emotional or mental problems, you have had access to the services
provided by your County�s Community Mental Health Board, and throughout your
life you found that the state laws were enforced by the county sheriff. Also
you have been using County Roads and living in a physical environment which
is the responsibility of the County Drain Commissioner. The day you died,
your death certificate was filed into the County Clerk�s Office and not long
after your death, you estate will be probated in the County Probate Court.
Thus, all our lives we were in one way or another using the service of some
facet of the County Government.

Most of the functions of County Government are performed
by officials elect ed by the citizens of the individual county, which is as
it should be. The general supervision of county governmental functions is
performed by the County Board of Commissioners. The separate operating
offices, departments and bureaus of County Government are in the charge of
the separately elected officials.